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CAMPAIGN 2012

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – Thirteen times over the years the Miami-Dade commission has asked voters for a pay raise. Twelve times before this GOP primary day, voters rejected their request. It appears that this latest request, on the primary ballot, may be unlucky 13.

With all precincts counted the charter amendment that would have raised their pay from $6 thousand to more than $90 thousand, in return for term limits and a prohibition on outside employment was defeated, with 54% of the voters rejecting the proposal,

Many voters were upset that commissioners wanted a pay raise in these tough economic times, and were unhappy with the term limit offer, which would have limited newly elected commissioners to 8 years in office, but would not count the time in service for sitting commissioners for term limits.

The second issue on the ballot fared much better, and appears headed for passage. Voters have approved a measure to make it easier for citizens to get proposed changes to Miami-Dade’s charter on the ballot, doubling the amount of times sponsors will have to get needed petitions signed.

Voters had turned a mayor and a commissioner out of office last spring, and one of the clarion calls for change involved the ability for citizens to place their own amendments on county ballots, to put more control in the hands of the people.

In addition to longer times for petitions, charter amendments no longer have to be handled in a special election if the next election is too far in the future. Now, charter changes will be held until the next election, saving taxpayers the cost of special elections.